***There Are Rivers in the Sky weaves together three stories set in three timelines, featuring disparate characters, to explore interconnectedness, the power of water, echoing tragedies, and the timelessness of the written word.***

Water remembers. It is humans who forget.
In 1840 in London, young Arthur lives near the sewage-filled River Thames, desperate to escape poverty and his abusive household.

In 2014 Turkey, ten-year-old Narin is living near the Tigris and is affected by a disorder that will cause her to go permanently deaf.

And in 2018 London, Zaleekah, a hydrologist, moves into a houseboat on the Thames when she and her husband break up, but she can't shake her thoughts of suicide.

There Are Rivers in the Sky traces the stories of these three disparate characters living alongside rivers in three different times, interconnected by a single drop of water and "the Epic of Gilgamesh," an ancient poem that may have the power to change each of their lives.

Later, when the storm has passed, everyone will talk about the destruction it left behind, though no one, not even the king himself, will remember that it all began with a single raindrop.
Shafak uses the life-giving--and at times, through flood or pollution, life-taking--waters of the Tigris and the Thames to help shape this story in three timelines.

Through Zaleekah's 2018-set story we explore climate change, pollution, and the consequences of abusing natural resources, as well as the questionable morality of private or museum ownership of other cultures' precious artifacts. Yet the river is a backdrop to her reimagined future, her newfound inner strength and search for love, and her renewed hope in life.

Narin's story, aside from modern modes of travel and communication, feels like a tragedy pulled from deep in the past--and, in fact, it is said that the Yazidi people have been endlessly beaten down and massacred over and over again since ancient times. In a shockingly speedy escalation of force, Isis brings centuries-old hatred to trap and murder innocent Yazidis, eradicating communities in relentless genocide.

And clever Arthur slowly pulls himself out of a London slum by lucking into an apprenticeship at a printing shop with nurturing mentors. His curiosity about antiquities leads him to the British Museum and, eventually, a key role in deciphering tablets, then a formative trip to the Middle East and Nineveh, which will be the source of his one true love and also his undoing.

Shafak makes what could have been an unwieldy or disjointed-feeling set of complex situations into a tragically beautiful intertwined novel that shines a light on weighty issues at three points in space and time. I was haunted by this and fascinated as well.

I received a prepublication edition of There Are Rivers in the Sky courtesy of Knopf and NetGalley.

Writing: 5/5
Pace: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Enjoyability: 4/5

This book is not talked about enough. The writing was so beautiful… it was perfection to the setting and time period that the story takes place in. I actually learned quite a lot in the Victorian era and about Mesopotamia. The characters all had a purpose… a motivation… a path to take. There were multiple POVs written and different timelines but it makes it enjoyable to try to understand and put pieces together. The pacing was reasonable for the story, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the time period and the struggles of the characters that contributed to the ending and growth. It has great themes of society that is still relevant until this day.

Great book!

Elif Shafak is a masterful writer and this book proves to be a strong work. There Are Rivers in the Sky is a book that examines how our pasts link to the present, connecting time via a single drop of water. Experience wise, I tried to begin reading the physical version of this book twice before starting the audio. The audio hooked me and once I started listening I began reading it in both audio and visually.

In this book there are three points of view and timelines. My favorite of the timelines was Arthur who we meet as a young boy born in the slums. He is extremely intelligent and his genius somewhat helps to pull him out of his bleak circumstances a travel to places he has only dreamed of visiting. Next we have Narin, a young girl who is losing her ability to hear but comes from a lineage of people who are blessed precognitive talents. Third we have Zaleekah, a woman and hydrologist who is rebuilding her life and finding herself following the end of her marriage.

Arthur's story was in my opinion the strongest and the most compelling. I don't usually look things up while I'm reading but I googled several things while reading so I could visualize the story even better. All of the timelines in this book are written vividly and descriptively and the historical information is accessible and consuming. The three stories are connected both by the theme of water preserving history and by the connection of all of the characters to ancient Mesopotamia.

The standout aspect of this book is the expertly crafted storytelling. Elif Shafak takes the reader on an exceptional journey only to leave them at the end with a book hangover and an existential crisis. In certain ways it reminded me of Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr and also The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. I rated this book 4 stars.

“𝘍𝘰𝘳, 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴, 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴.”

I was gifted a finished copy from AAKnopf Penguin Random House last summer (NetGalley also provided an eARC) and have finally gotten around to reading it.. well, listen. Shafak’s The Island of Missing trees was the first novel by her that I read and it was also the first audiobook I ever listened to! I’m slowly acquiring her backlist (I have Three Daughters of Eve and am on the hunt for a specific edition of The Bastard of Istanbul).

From The Island of Missing Trees I could tell that Shafak has a distinct approach to her stories that beautifully works. They can be dense, detailed, with multiple timelines, but they flow well. Her latest is no exception, though at times this sweeping saga of seemingly three random timelines can make you feel a little lost as to where exactly the story is going and how they intersect. It did take me a little bit to get into it as sometimes it feels fragmented but once I did I enjoyed it so much. It’s unique how the water itself is as much a main character as Arthur, Narin, and Zaleekah, and she uses it to connect their stories.

It is far more than a story about water; Shafak addresses poverty and privilege, talent and linguistics, family and marriage, art and literature, and more. It is a stunning story in how it is written, intertwines, and clear the research Shafak did to write this. While it may not be for everyone, I do highly recommend giving it a fair chance. Content includes child abuse, sexual exploitation, war violence, and death of parents. I give it 4.5 out of 5!

Have you ever wondered if water has memory? This book is a play on that idea. Between three different POVs in three different timelines (650s BCE; 1800s; 2014; 2018)- this story had great pacing and was captivating through the end.

The story is about a lost tablet which holds the epic of Gilgamesh and how it came to be rediscovered and its influence on the lives of three different characters. It is about discovering one's purpose in life, finding one's way after loss, and finding new hope again after tragedy. This story though is NOT a cheerful one and depicts scenes of genocide (Yazidi people of Kurdistan), ISIS terror, cholera, domestic abuse, and even sui-C!de.

I really enjoyed how water seems to be a prominent side character in this story- almost as if it is the narrator. The imagery of nature really stood out and I have so many highlights from this one. I really loved how much Elif weaved in archaeology, colonialism, current events, and history into the story as well. There were elements of magical realism as well that I thought were well done!

Thank you to @NetGalley and to Knopf Publishing for an ARC of this book (sorry to be late!)

*Review will be shared via Goodreads and Instagram (@readingkelsey)

Elif Shafak can do no wrong. She must be in my top 5 favorite writers ever at this point. This was so moving, so beautifully written, a story I will remember for a long time.

Thnaks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

There are Rivers in the Sky was an excellent read. I loved the multiple narrators and timelines. I loved the historical element and learned so much about ancient Mesopotamia. It was propulsive and I loved the poetic writing. One of my top reads of 2025 so far!!

This is a multilayered and multiple time framed story of three characters connected through time by single drop of water. An all encompassing novel about words and ideas, about good and evil, tying past to near present with water. At times it felt a little too ambitious and a little slow moving. However, it merits 4 stars for the beautiful writing and wonderful characters, my favorite of whom was Arthur .

I received a copy of this from Knopf through NetGalley.

“There are rivers in the sky” by Elif Shafak is one of the more poignant books that I have read. Following her last book “The Island of Missing Trees”. this book was equally delightful.. Her superb writing skills and sensitivity are a forced to be reckoned with!
I dislike paraphrasing the book when writing a review so I will not do so here. I just want to impress upon the reader, the magical journey that you will embark upon when you read this book. Shafak has a unique ability. to execute this. The journey that you travel with her, through the book, is an experience to be savored.. Exploring Iraq in a unique way as the story unfolds transports you into an imaginary world that is both complex and satisfying. You will not be sorry.
Enjoy another well written book by a very talented author.

I DNF'd at 10%. There were too many timelines and I couldn't figure out how they were fitting together. Not the kind of story telling for me.

Four lives and three storylines told with incredible skill weave There Are Rivers in the Sky into a read not to be missed. The story starts before that, however, with a tale older than time that turns up throughout found civilizations and which will continue to turn up versions in ones we uncover in centuries ahead.

The author has written masterfully about water, and through these linked tales, readers will focus for a moment on that random raindrop on the windshield, or back of their hand, or rolling off their umbrella and wonder. . .what whens have you come through and where have you been?

All the stars. I highly recommend just starting the book without further information - that said, know that all the hardest things in life are considered herein and some explicitly.

*A sincere thank you to Elif Shafak, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #ThereAreRiversintheSky #NetGalley

I am such a sucker for stories that follow multiple timelines and characters. There Are Rivers in the Sky scratched that special itch for me because of that and also my need for historical fiction. Elif Shafak has crafted an amazing world and story that I know will stay with me for quite some time (and a reminder to read her other work.) My thanks for NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

“Time is a river that meanders.” Eliot Shafak tells the story of three individuals separated across the world and time but connected by a single raindrop: Arthur in London in the late 1800s, Narin in the Middle East in 2014 and Zaleekah in London in 2018.
There’s great character development and a thread that leads back to ancient Mesopotamia, the land of Narin’s ancestors, now under the threat of ISIS.
As a historical fiction fan, I enjoyed learning more about this part of the world in a more intimate portrait that what we see on the news. Shafak makes a thought provoking statement not only about life giving water but also the meaning of home, humanity and the rightful resting place for their artifacts.

I somehow never posted a review for this one. But months and months later, I still remember treasuring it. I've now read Shafak's entire backlist and let me just say, she's master at her craft.

Each book was just so different but also equally developed and magical. I would have to say my two favorites are: The Island of Missing Trees and 10 Minutes. I'm eager to see what Shafak publishes next

Elif Shafak has long been on my list to read. There are Rivers in the Sky traverses centuries from ancient Mesopotamia to modern day London. The story of seemingly disconnected people flows seamlessly together, but the real heart of the book are the ideas that shine through these characters. Through the entire book come life views and thoughts that I find myself furiously underlining passages. I am so glad I finally read this author. I look forward to reading more.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025/01/there-are-rivers-in-sky.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Elif Shafak's writing is undeniably beautiful. Her prose is detailed and nuanced, and I genuinely felt transported to each setting in this book (of which there are many). Overall, however, I felt that Shafak was doing just a little bit too much. As soon as I'd get swept up in one character's narrative, she would switch to the perspective of a different character. This happened over and over, and I honestly found it jarring. I also felt that the connections between storylines were tenuous, at best. I understand what the author was trying to do with all of the different narratives; I just don't necessarily feel it was done successfully. By the end of the book, I mostly felt exhausted, which was unfortunate given the amount of time I had invested in the stories and the characters. I would absolutely read Shafak's work again, and I would even recommend this book to some readers (particularly those who are interested in the Epic of Gilgamesh), while cautioning that this book is likely not for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

*There Are Rivers in the Sky* by Elif Shafak is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that captures the complexities of human emotions, love, and the search for belonging. Shafak's prose is lyrical and evocative, effortlessly transporting readers between past and present as she explores the lives of characters bound by fate and memory. The themes of migration, displacement, and identity are powerfully woven into the narrative, making this both a personal and universal story. Shafak’s ability to blend history with rich character development creates a profound, unforgettable reading experience. This novel is a stunning achievement, deserving of five stars for its emotional depth, storytelling, and timeless relevance.

I don't think there are words to adequately explain just how much this book affected me. I'm pretty sure this is the best historical fiction novel I've ever read. I kept talking about it the whole time I was reading it. I told my family. I posted about it in my Facebook groups. I shared it with friends. I even bought a physical copy as soon as it was released! This is a must read!

The amount of research this must have taken is astounding. The intricate way the three stories were woven together was breathtaking. I fell in love with Narin, Arthur, and Zakheelah. It's just such a moving story. Learning about London and the Thames during Victorian times. Learning about the history of the Yazidis. Learning about the Mesopotamian history. The clash of cultures. Who does history belong to? The responsibility of humanity. It is heartbreaking to realize there are horrors happening today.

This book has profoundly affected me. It was heartbreaking and beautiful all at once.

Read this if you like:
- book club reads with lots of great topics for discussion
- historical fiction
- books that will break you and enlighten you

"Epic tale with multiple timelines and characters that all come together for an emotional and satisfying conclusion" is one of favorite genres of literature and I am happy to proclaim that this novel is a member of that club. The only thing holding it back would be the 2018 story took far too long to get going and with characters it was difficult to bond with, though the payoff was well worth it. 4.5 stars rounded to 4.

Extremely dark book that covers difficult topics.
The writing was excellent but I did not enjoy the subject matter.